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LASIK eye surgery

What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a type of laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea to change how light focuses on the retina.

The cornea is the clear front surface of your eye. When its shape causes light to focus incorrectly on the retina, you may experience blurry vision from a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

During LASIK, a laser precisely reshapes the cornea to improve how light enters the eye and focuses on the retina.

LASIK has been used as a method of vision correction for decades and is a well-established option for people who want to reduce their dependence on corrective lenses.

What Should I Expect On My LASIK Surgery Day?

Within minutes, those who struggle with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism could be glasses-free and live a life of visual freedom. The average LASIK procedure takes only a matter of minutes and you will notice an improvement in your vision immediately.

When you arrive to our center, we will go over some final paperwork and post-operative instructions with you. You will then be prepped for your LASIK procedure, which starts with numbing drops being placed in your eyes to ensure a pain-free experience during your procedure. Once the drops have taken effect, there are three simple and quick steps to the actual LASIK surgery.

Flap

A thin flap is created on the cornea to provide access to the underlying tissue.

Laser

A computer-guided laser precisely reshapes the cornea by removing a microscopic amount of tissue based on your prescription.

After

After the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is repositioned over the treated area. Stitches are generally not needed.

The laser treatment itself takes only a short amount of time.

Want a closer look at the procedure?

What Does LASIK Correct?

Myopia image
Nearsightedness / Myopia

Nearsightedness or Myopia, makes distant objects appear blurry. LASIK can reshape the cornea to change how light is focused and improve distance vision. 

Astigmatism image
Astigmatism

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea has an irregular shape, which can cause blurred or distorted vision. LASIK can reshape the cornea to create a more regular surface and improve the way light is focused. 

Farsighted image
Farsightedness / Hyperopia

Farsightedness or Hyperopia can make it difficult to see nearby objects clearly. LASIK can reshape the cornea to improve how light focuses on the retina.

Does LASIK Correct Reading Vision?

Presbyopia is an age-related condition and noticed as a gradual loss of the eyes’ ability to focus up-close, especially when reading fine print or in dimly lit situations. Presbyopia is the result of the hardening or or loss of flexibility of the lens within the eye and most people become aware of presbyopia in their early to mid-40s and it typically worsens until around the age of 65. Since presbyopia is a lens and not a corneal condition, it alone is not correctable by LASIK; however, if presbyopia is present with a refractive error, monovision LASIK may be a good option to consider.

What is Monovision LASIK?

Monovision LASIK is a vision correction procedure which can address both near and far vision problems and may be a good solution for people who find themselves switching between their regular glasses for normal tasks and reading glasses for up-close work like reading. Unlike standard LASIK, which treats both eyes for distance vision, the strategic approach of monovision LASIK is tailored to provide clear distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other. Many people achieve monovision correction through the use of contact lenses prior to LASIK. For most patients, the brain is quickly able to seamlessly integrate the visual information from each eye, resulting in clear vision both close-up and at a distance. The benefit of monovision LASIK is that it eliminates or reduces a patients need for reading glasses. Additionally, through Whiting Clinic’s customized approach, Monovision LASIK is highly customizable for each patient, with your surgeon tailoring the correction to suit your unique vision needs and activities. Of course, LASIK can still be performed on patients with presbyopia to correct the refractive error in both eyes equally and the patient can use over-the-counter reading glasses when they notice the need for up-close work like reading.

What Other Procedures Does Whiting Clinic Perform?

LASIK isn’t always the best treatment recommendation for all patients. At Whiting Clinic, we strive to get to know you as an individual, which includes your lifestyle, type of work, and hobbies as these, in addition to your vision prescription and optical testing results, could impact the treatment recommendation we provide to you.

Free LASIK Consultation to help you make an informed decision

At Whiting Clinic Minneapolis, we offer multiple ways for you to find out if LASIK is right for you – free of charge.

At Whiting Clinic, we offer options for those interested in LASIK to learn more about laser eye surgeries including LASIK and PRK, and find out if a laser vision correction procedure is right for them.

Our TeleHealth Appointments (Virtual Consultations) are a great place to start your journey. These appointments take 20-30 minutes and are conducted virtually so you can participate from where ever you are. During your TeleHealth appointment, we can answer your questions about the procedure and the process, provide you with a price quote, and take you through payment options, including guaranteed financing‡. We can also get you scheduled for your pre-treatment visual testing which can even be arranged on your treatment day if you are eager to move forward and start your life after LASIK!

We also offer in-center appointments for those who are more comfortable starting their journey in person. These appointments take about 60-90 minutes and include everything done during the TeleHealth appointment, plus the pre-treatment testing. After your appointment, we can also get you scheduled for your treatment.

‡Financing Options Guaranteed with Premier Pay in-house financing: Down payment amount varies from $0 to $1,000 per eye based on FICO score. The interest rate is based on program length and varies from 0% to 19.99% APR. A $25 set-up fee and a $3 monthly processing fee may apply. No minimum purchase amount is required.

LASIK Recovery

The day of your LASIK procedure, you’ll be accompanied by a driver and spend approximately 90 minutes at Whiting Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the years, we’ve heard many myths about LASIK. After all, we’ve been in the field of laser vision correction longer than most. Please contact us with any questions.

LASIK will not interfere with having cataract surgery later in life.

True. You can have cataract surgery after correcting your vision with LASIK. Routine eye exams are the only way to identify eye conditions that may need treatment.


Routine eye exams are important after LASIK.

True. Even though your vision has been corrected, it is still essential to take care of your eyes by having a yearly routine eye exam.


LASIK is not recommended for everyone.

True. It is important to have your evaluation to determine if LASIK is right for you. While LASIK isn’t right for some people, we are happy to say that the majority of our patients can have LASIK.


LASIK can correct my astigmatism.

True. LASIK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, AND astigmatism. Your individual candidacy recommendation is based on meticulous diagnostic testing and your unique lifestyle.


LASIK is risky and untested.

False. LASIK technology has been evolving for over twenty years and has dramatically improved since 1996. Studies on patients who had earlier laser vision correction show their vision is still clear with no significant health effects. It is the most performed elective procedure in the world.


Will I see immediate results after LASIK?

True. You will notice a dramatic improvement in your vision immediately after your procedure, and most patients feel comfortable driving the very next day!


LASIK is painless.

True. Many of our patients describe the procedure as virtually painless. Some patients feel a stinging sensation for a short time afterward. Over-the-counter pain medication is enough to alleviate any discomfort.


LASIK is permanent.

True. The change made to your vision is permanent. Whiting Clinic offers a Lifetime Commitment for any future necessary laser vision enhancements.


Schedule Your Free LASIK Consultation.

We hope to speak with you soon and assist you on your journey toward better vision.

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